Students honored by American College of Physicians for research work

Two UC Davis medical students garnered honors at a recent poster competition sponsored by the Northern California Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

UC Davis medical students (left to right) David Anderson and Katherine Crabtree

Katherine Crabtree, a second-year student, took home the First-Place Research Award and a $500 check for studying the different approaches American and Lao medical students take to address the health-care barriers facing Hmong patients. Working with mentor Tonya Fancher, associate professor of internal medicine, Crabtree found that while the students identified many identical barriers to care, it was the Lao students who identified specific, culturally appropriate measures to overcome those obstacles. Crabtree's findings suggest that Lao health-care practices could be used as a resource for interventions and educational strategies.

David Anderson, also a second-year student, was recognized with a First Runner-up Research Award and a $250 check for work that focused on the efficacy of a therapy for treating patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Anderson worked with a team led by John Laird, professor of medicine and medical director of the UC Davis Vascular Center, and Ehrin Armstrong, a UC Davis fellow in interventional cardiology. He found the trend toward decreased rates of major adverse cardiovascular events for CLI patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy warrants a larger study-sample size to determine the true benefits of the therapy.

In addition to showing their posters at the recent chapter meeting, Crabtree and Anderson gave presentations about their research findings to attendees. Beyond the awards' recognition, the student posters are now eligible for the American College of Physicians' national competition, which takes place at the Internal Medicine 2012 meeting next April in New Orleans.

The UC Davis School of Medicine is among the nation's leading medical schools, recognized for its research and primary-care programs. The school offers fully accredited master's degree programs in public health and in informatics, and its combined M.D.-Ph.D. program is training the next generation of physician-scientists to conduct high-impact research and translate discoveries into better clinical care. Along with being a recognized leader in medical research, the school is committed to serving underserved communities and advancing rural health. For more information, visit UC Davis School of Medicine at medschool.ucdavis.edu.